president obama heading back to d.c. we're following every development as the clock keeps ticking. >>> retail numbers rolling in. >>> plus investing trends in the new year. ♪ >> we're focusing in on where to put your money as 2013 approaches. the second hour of "squawk box" starts right now. ♪ >>> good morning. welcome to "squawk box" on cnbc. i'm joe kernen, along with andrew ross sorkin. becky quick is off today. is this evans hour? "youngblood?" >> i don't know this song. ♪ >> futures are higher not as much as before. 17 points or so. being up at all with the fiscal cliff really looking like we're -- why wouldn't we head over. you go back to 39.6 on anybody 250 and above and ride in and lower taxes and be a hero. see republicans vote against that. >>> pre-christmas shopping rush wasn't much of a rush at all, at least not the type economists were expecting. a mastercard spending poll reports holiday sales were up .7 of a percent a year ago well below expectations. and we'll get a fresh read also on home prices wh